What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

[trapezeus]

I'm trying to put together a list of the common complaints from casual hockey fans and non-hockey fans as to why they don't like the game.

So far i have a short list of;

1. it's too hard to follow or see the puck
2. it's not our game (meaning it isn't american)
3. what is icing
4. Offsides? how can you figure that out?


Any others that you hear frequently or drive you nuts?

thanks for your help.

[SabreEleven]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

too much fighting.

[RockStar36]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

You nailed most of them.

I'm mostly told that they don't understand the game or that it is boring. I mostly hear that it's boring when it's a 1-0 or 2-1 type of game.

[Novacane]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

I hear the same. Not enough scoring.....the game is boring.

[JD]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

The problem is regionalism. You have to grow up being introduced to the sport in your youth, in my opinion.

The NHL needs to put more emphasis into inline hockey leagues... (play them in the south, outdoors maybe?)

Football can be played year round and its easy to just pick up and go play in a field. You need more to play hockey.

But the south definitely should have an inline version of the nhl and just keep ice hockey up north.

[OpIv37]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

I agree that the problem is regionalism, but inline hockey won't fix it. The NHL has tried regional expansion with minimal success. Florida, pheonix, Atlanta, Tampa bay, carolina, etc, and it hasn't caught on.

You are correct that some people think hockey is not "our" game,but those people come from places where football or basketball is king. No one from the northern tier of the country says that nonsense. It's more of a cultural thing and it will be very difficult to change.

[hammerbillsfan]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

I agree that the problem is regionalism, but inline hockey won't fix it. The NHL has tried regional expansion with minimal success. Florida, pheonix, Atlanta, Tampa bay, carolina, etc, and it hasn't caught on.

You are correct that some people think hockey is not "our" game,but those people come from places where football or basketball is king. No one from the northern tier of the country says that nonsense. It's more of a cultural thing and it will be very difficult to change.

****ing sad that these teams have made the finals too, 2 of the them winning cups.

[TacklingDummy]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

Lack of TV coverage.
I haven't watched one game since the strike and losing the Empire Network.
I do check the standing around once a week, that's about it.

[rbochan]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

Lack of TV coverage.
I haven't watched one game since the strike and losing the Empire Network.
I do check the standing around once a week, that's about it.

I don't seem to have that problem, at least here in Syracuse. Almost every night there's a Sabres, Rags, Devils, or Fishsticks game on here via basic cable. We also get Crunch and Amerks games, as well as regional college and high school games.

[OpIv37]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

I don't seem to have that problem, at least here in Syracuse. Almost every night there's a Sabres, Rags, Devils, or Fishsticks game on here via basic cable. We also get Crunch and Amerks games, as well as regional college and high school games.

trust me- it's a huge problem in the rest of the country.

Here in DC, the only televised hockey consists of Caps games, VS, and NHLN. I have DirecTV so I currently don't get VS. NHLN doesn't pick up games every night (and a lot of people don't have it included in their programming anyway). So basically, the only guaranteed hockey is the Caps. I'd say there are 3 nights a week with no NHL on my TV whatsoever.

[rbochan]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

trust me- it's a huge problem in the rest of the country.

Here in DC, the only televised hockey consists of Caps games, VS, and NHLN. I have DirecTV so I currently don't get VS. NHLN doesn't pick up games every night (and a lot of people don't have it included in their programming anyway). So basically, the only guaranteed hockey is the Caps. I'd say there are 3 nights a week with no NHL on my TV whatsoever.

VS only shows games on Mondays and Tuesdays, so that's not even saying much about the flagship station for the NHL. Bettman in action!

[don137]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

Living in the south most people do not watch hockey because they find it boring on TV. The fans that converted from not being a fan to a fan of hockey are converted because they saw it live not because they started watching it on TV and liked the game.
There is a huge difference watching it live versus on TV. Watching a game live real makes people appreciate and enjoy the game.

[ddaryl]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

Wathcing the game on TV is difficult, so getting newbie fans interested is harder.

The game is much easier to follow at the rink.... but usually TV is where you attract new fans.


the solution would be a wide angled camera that allows you to see all the action in a zone develope IMO...

I like to see the sniper sneaking around not the camera making all kinds of moves trying to keep up with the puck

I did like the FOX puck that showed the trails on the TV a few years back

[rbochan]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

The only people I know that aren't fond of hockey have never actually been to a game.

[OpIv37]

Re: What are common complaints from non hockey fans about hockey?

the solution would be a wide angled camera that allows you to see all the action in a zone develope IMO...

they already have that now- it's called HDTV. The trick is getting the stations to actually show that view more often during games.